There’s a quiet but powerful transformation happening at the old Astro Motel—a place once known for little more than a faded sign and empty rooms. Thanks to the determined efforts of Homeless Heroes and a growing network of community partners, this property is being reborn into Hatch Homes for Heroes, a supportive housing facility for veterans experiencing homelessness.
This isn’t a flashy project driven by headlines or quick wins. It’s a common-sense, boots-on-the-ground solution to a deeply rooted issue: providing safe, stable, and dignified housing for the very people who once served our country.
From Motel to Mission
In just 90 days, Homeless Heroes raised over $300,000—surpassing their initial goal of $250,000—to purchase the old Astro Motel. This rapid fundraising success speaks volumes about the community’s belief in the mission.
Chris Israel, Executive Director of Homeless Heroes, made the organization's purpose clear:
“Everybody who lives here will be a veteran. All the service providers, the entire nonprofit is full of veterans, will have a 24-hour day service provider on site every single day to address the needs of our veterans that are coming out of their crisis, coming out of their trauma.”
Veterans helping veterans. That’s the core principle behind Hatch Homes for Heroes.
More Than a Roof Overhead
Housing is the foundation, but the vision is much broader. Israel explained how the facility will offer wraparound support services designed to help veterans rebuild their lives:
“Cooking classes, you know, life skills classes help folks to get all their identifying documents. If they don't have them, they will have to be a qualifying veteran, which essentially just means that they don't have a dishonorable discharge.”
Residents will also be allowed—encouraged, even—to bring their pets. The facility is planning a dog park and incorporating kennels into each unit.
“We're going to encourage our veterans to have companion animals or service animals, or emotional support animals. As a matter of fact, we're building kennels into each apartment,” said Israel.
This attention to emotional support—recognizing the healing power of animals—reflects the deep understanding this organization has of the veterans it serves.
A Community-Powered Project
The progress at Hatch Homes for Heroes hasn’t happened in isolation. The nonprofit Bridging the Gaps joined forces with Homeless Heroes to bring in men from their program to help with renovation labor. It’s a win-win collaboration: Homeless Heroes gets critical help on-site, while these men complete community service hours and gain job skills.
“We thought no better place than Astro Motel to bring them over to complete their 80 hours of community service and help out the Homeless Heroes,” said Shane Jones, vice president and treasurer of Bridging the Gaps.
Kenny Dapp, founder of Bridging the Gaps, added:
“Just being able to provide the people, these homeless individuals a little bit of opportunity to prove themselves... they’ve boosted their confidence up so much because they see something they got it done and they seen it and the end process of it.”
The initiative is not just about bricks and mortar; it's about dignity, opportunity, and giving people a stake in rebuilding their community.
What’s Next: Phased Renovation
Renovation is happening in three phases:
Phase One: Clearing out and prepping the first section of the building.
Phase Two: Major construction to convert eight former motel rooms into seven HUD-compliant, one-bedroom apartments with full kitchens and ADA accessibility.
Phase Three: Final touches and implementation of support services to make the facility fully operational.
In total, Hatch Homes for Heroes will feature 17 one-bedroom, one-bath apartments, each designed to offer veterans not just shelter but a chance at stability and independence.
“I don’t actually have a whole lot of words outside of gratitude,” said Tiffaney Belflower, founder and president of Homeless Heroes. “I’m so thankful to see it move forward because we can’t move forward without community support. They keep showing up every time we have a need, every time we have an ask, every time we know the next step, they show up.”
A Clear Deadline with Meaning
Homeless Heroes is working hard to have the first veterans moved in by Veterans Day, November 11. It’s a symbolic deadline, but one filled with substance. What better way to honor service than by giving back in a tangible, life-changing way?
Common Sense with a Heart
There’s nothing complicated about what Homeless Heroes is doing. It’s just smart, compassionate work, done by people who care and understand the problem firsthand. They saw an old building and envisioned a refuge. They didn’t wait for perfect conditions or massive government grants—they got to work, rallied the community, and made progress.
If you want to learn more or get involved, now is the time. These kinds of projects only succeed when the community keeps showing up—just like they have every step of the way.
